Individual or group cut-outs for electrical devices.



CHARLES JOHNSTON 61 CLAUDE JOHNSTON. INDIVIDUAL 0R GROUP CUT-OUTS FORELECTRICAL DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2|, 91 l- RENEWED SEPI. 2 1,138,222.

Pawnted May, 4, 1915.

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CHARLES J'OHIISTDN AND CLAUDE JOHNSTON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

INDIVIDUAL OB GROUP (WIT-OUTS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filer} March 21, 1911, Serial No. 616,042. Renewed September29, 1913. Serial No. 792,486.'

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Cinnms JOHNSTON andCLAUDE JOHNSTON, both citizens of the United States, residing atMemphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Individual or Group Cut- Outs forElectrical Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to individual or group cut outs for electricaldevices.

The object of the invention is to provide means to readily andeffectively control the independent operation of electric devices,

such as lamps, signs, motors, etc, connected in parallel from a distantcontrol station and at the same time to avoid burning out thecontactpoints at the local circuit when the circuit is made and broken.in cutting in or out the object controlled.

To this, end our invention comprises, generally stated, means at thecentral control station, for momentarily effecting the lowering of thevoltage in the circuit, and thereby electrically releasing a memberwhich is actuated by gravity and serves in its successive movements toactuate a make and break device to alternately close and open a shuntcircuit governing the particular device or devices to be controlled.

Our invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings in which-Figure 1 is a view showing the individual local controlling device infront elevation and showing the main circuit diagrammati- Cally, andFig. 2 is a detail view of the rear face of the make and break device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 are the main feed lines leading fromand to the central power station and 3 designates a resistance whichmay-obe thrown into circuit with the feed lines or shunted by a switch3. However, any suitable means arranged at any suitable location may beemployed to effect the same function as the resistance and switch. Anumber of lamps 4, 5, 6 are connected in parallel or multiple andsupplied with current from the main feeds. Instead of the lamps, motors,signs or other translating devices may be utilized in connection withour invention. The lamp the one to which the independent out outmechanism is shown as applied. This lamp is connected in series withseparated, fixed contact plates 7, 8 mounted on the base-board 9, and towhich are respectively connected the leading in wires 10, ll. Mounted onthe base-board 9 is a solenoid 12 having its magnet connected inparallel upon the main feed line's forming a shunt across them throughleading in wire 10 and leading in wire 13. This solenoid has a vertically movable gravity-actuated core 14. In the drawings the core isshown dropped to its lower position, the solenoid being deenergized.Projecting from the lower end of the core i an arm 15 on which ispivoted a pawl 16 e. .endin at substantially a right angle to the corean held yieldingly in it nor mal horizontal position by means of thesaddle spring 17 secured to the end of the core. This pawl is adapted toengage the ratchetteeth 18 of a rotatable ratchet wheel 19 mounted on aplate 20 fixed to the baseboard 9. This wheel is adapted to be movedfrom right to left by the actuating pawl and its teeth are inclined atthe ends to permit the passage of the yielding pawl ast the teeth in theupward movement of t e pawl when the core is raised. A bent spring 21fastened upon the axle screw of the Wheel serves to exert pressure atits ends against the hub of the wheel to prevent backward movement ofthe latter and to hold it in the position to which it is moved by theactuation of the pawl. The wheel is preferably provided with eight teethso as to be moved by the pawl one-eighth of a revolution upon eachactuation. Upon the inner'surface of the wheel are mounted fourseparated lugs 22 arranged in a circle. These lugs are adaptedtoalternately engage and release a switch lever pivoted on the plate 20-at24:. The lever is provided with a shoulder/25, a notch 26 and a forwardshaped end 27. At its rear end, the levercarries a sliding contact plate28 adapted to bridge the contacts 7 and 8 when movedupward by the lever,serving to alternately: make and break the circuit between these 1 1contacts so as to cut in or out out the lamp or other translating deviceto be controlled. The sliding movement of the bridging contact plate isciiected by the engagement of one of the lugs on the ratchet wheel'withthe shoulder on the lever which moves the plate into engagement with theupper con-' tact plate 8. the lug then passing into the :nclined hook- 9momentary lowering of the Volta e in the main circuit at the centralcontro station, the solenoid will be deenergized and the .core 14 willbe released and will drop by gravity, its pawl 16 striking against oneof the teeth on the ratchet wheel and turning the latter one'tooth andcarrying one of the lugs 22 either into closing or withdrawin contactwith the lever 23. This lever Will thus be shifted to either carry thebridging contact into engagement with the two contacts 7 and 8 or toremove it therefrom, thus either making or breaking the circuit throughthe' lamp. The successive movements of the ratchet wheel willalternately make and break the circuit. The restoration of the fullvoltage in the main circuit after the momentarv' lowering of saidvoltage, will immediately recnergize the solenoid lifting the corewithin the same, and in such upward movement, the yielding pawl of thecore will freely pass thesl'oping teeth of the ratchet wheel withoutturning the latter. I

- It will be seen that the actuating member consisting of the core andits pawl is electrically rcleascdand is caused'to move by' gravity, thusavoiding the necessity of having the solenoid in an energized conditionwhen the circuit is broken at the contact points, thereby preventingburning of these points, such as would be the case if the cur- I'l'lltwere permitted to remain on while the circuit is broken at this point. I

it will be noted that throughout the entire operation of this device,the actuating wheel and movable arm, which carries the sliding contactplate. are not moved in anyway until the movable core drops at thelowering of voltage on the main lines, at which time owing to theextremely low voltage passing through the contacts when the lamp is incircuit, there can be no possibility of burning at the make and break ofcontacts. For example, if a live circuit of say one hundred. voltsoperating a lamp taking six a'm'peres is broken, there will be muchburning at the metallic points when the break made} but it an electriccircuit remains closed through a lamp taking six ampcrcs at one hundredvolts until the said voltage is low erect to sav one volt, then therecan be no arcing or burning at make and break contacts.

1. In combination with a main electric circuit containing a plurality oftranslating devices, a local circuit controlling one or more of saiddevices and having a make and break device therein, and means operableto either make or break the local circuit upon the lessening of thecurrent strength in the main circuit, substantially as described.

2. An electric circuit havin a plurality of translating devices, asolenoid in said c1rcuit havin a downwardly movable core operable on yupon the deenergization of the solenoid, means actuated by said core forclosing or opening the circuit through one or more/of said devices, anddistant control means formomentarily lowering the voltage of-saidcircuit.

3. An electriccircuit havin aplurality of translating devices, 0. Iconcut-out for one or more of said translatin devices, means to operatesaid out out to e1ther make or break the circuit through saidtranslating devices upon the momentary lowering of the voltage in themain circuit without breaks ing said main circuit and central stationmeans to effect such mo of the voltage. v

4. In an electrically connected systemof translating devices, meansoperated by gravity to alternately open and close said metallic localcircuitto cut in or out one or more of said devices and means to releasesaid gravity operated means by a momentary lowering of a given voltagein the main circuit without breaking said circuit.

5. An electric circuit containing a plurality of translating devicesconnected in parentary lowering allel, a local make and break contactdevice controlling the circuit through one or more of said translatingdevices, having the conta cts connected in series with said controlleddevices, and an electrically released gravity actuated solenoid core foractuatin in, its downward movementi said make an break device to eitheropen or close the same and distant control means operating through saidcircuit to release said core.

6. An electric circuit containing a plurality of translating devices inparallel, a switch for cutting in or out one or more of the devicesindcpendcntly of the rest, a solenoid in parallel with the translatingdevices, a gravity dropcore for both opening and closingsaid switch byits downward.

movement, and means -at a distant control station for controlling thecurrcnt through said solenoid to close and open said switch.

7. An electric circuit containing a plurality of translating devices, incombination with a switch for cutting in or out one or more of saiddevices, separated contact points, a switch contact lover, a rotatable,

a metallic local circuit wheel having projections for alternately Intestimony whereof we have affixed our shifting said lever into openingand closing signatures in presenceeof two witnesses. positions, amovable Weight for turning said CHARLES J OHNSTON wheel and means at adistant control station CLAUDE JOHNSTON.

' for releasing said weight by the momentary I Witnesses:

lowering of the voltage only throughthe J. H. I'IINES, circuit. T. C.BUTLER;

